Do I Have the Right to Know Where My Child Is During Visitation?

Yes, you do, but within reason. If your child’s other parent keeps moving from one place to another and hasn’t provided you with an updated address. Or, if he or she has started taking your child to a significant other’s home for overnight stays and hasn’t told you where that person lives, you are entitled to know, and you should ask.

The right to know where the child is or who the child is staying with during the other parent’s timesharing, however, should not be used to monitor or unreasonably restrict where the other parent carries out his or her timesharing.

The Sixth Judicial Circuit (which serves Pasco and Pinellas Counties) has created a list of visitation dos and don’ts, which specifies that “each parent is entitled to know where the children are during visitations.” What’s more, the list states that parents “should also know if the children are left with other people such as babysitters or friends when the other parent is not there.”

Many court orders regarding timesharing specify that parents are required to provide each other with this type of information, so be sure to read over your paperwork to see if there are any applicable provisions. If there are, and the other parent isn’t complying with them, you may need to go back to court to enforce the terms of the order. You should consider hiring a family law attorney to assist you with this, if it is necessary.

Skilled Attorneys Serving Tampa Bay Families

If you’re experiencing problems with your current timesharing arrangement and you need the help of an experienced family law attorney, you can turn to the professionals at the Law Offices of Audrey A. Jefferis, P.A. Our attorneys have considerable experience handling issues like this, and they can provide you with the assistance you require. We have offices in New Port Richey and Palm Harbor—contact us today to arrange an appointment at whichever location is most convenient for you.